Metal, brass buttons - button madness

Do you think that buttons are an unimportant part of your closet? It's high time to definitely abandon this misconception. These small tatties have accompanied man for centuries. Their history goes back as far as the history of clothing itself. One would suppose that in the Bronze Age, practical sense was what clearly prevailed over aesthetic trends. And here, however, it is easy to make a mistake. It was at that time that the first buttons began to be created. Interestingly, in those ancient times, it fell to them not to fasten but to decorate the clothes worn by man.

We have to admit that in everyday life we are inclined to treat buttons a bit neglectfully. Only when they break away from the place where they are quietly stuck, the subject of buttons, or rather the lack of them, starts to occupy our minds. Round, plastic or metal, usually not very fancy - this is how we usually meet them today. But perhaps it is worthwhile to take a closer look at this small object? Even a cursory glance at the subject will reveal the potential that still lies within it.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, European fashion undergoes significant changes. Clothes begin to be sewn from increasingly fine materials. Long and voluminous robes, almost the same for men and women, are slowly giving way to a closet that is distinctly different in cut and more close-fitting to the body. The outfit ceases to be upholstered and draped, becoming clinging and in some places slit. In such a situation, in order to properly clothe oneself every day, individual pieces of clothing would have to be sewn together. Finally, saving the matter, a hole is invented, with the help of which buttons begin to perform their modern function. However, this change is quite radical - it could not go without an echo.

Button madness is not a temporary fad. The fascination with these tiny wonders has not diminished over the centuries! After all, thanks to them it was supposed to be simpler and easier and yet! It got to the point that the clothes of the rich were almost all buttons. Buttons with a hole - because such a tandem was already unquestionably in force, in such a quantity is a real challenge. Not surprisingly, the popularity of the wardrobe profession staggered. A remarkable historical example of this glamour is a certain summit meeting. In the 18th century, King Francis I of France ordered 13,400 gold buttons - they adorned a creation in which he appeared before King Henry VIII Tudor of England. To his surprise and that of the second sovereign to attend the highest-ranking ruler, he arrived equally attired.

Buttons large and small, made of bone, wood, glass or metal, pearl, with rubies or small pictures inside. Their various types exist in incredible numbers. For hundreds of years they have delighted people with their captivating charm. People squandered fortunes on them, seeing them as precious objects. Today it is worth remembering their face as well. After all, buttons can still be a truly unique ornament.